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Xero Shoes are a type and brand of minimalist shoe manufactured by Feel the World Inc. in Boulder, Colorado.〔 Designed for walking and running barefoot, the footwear has thin, flexible soles that are contoured to the shape of the human foot.〔 ==History== A high-school sprinter, after a 30 year break Steven Sashen got back into the sport.〔 However, after two years of injury-prone competition, he joined a local barefoot running club in Boulder, CO at the suggestion of a friend who gave him a copy of ''Born To Run'' by Christopher McDougall. As a result of running barefoot, his gait changed and injuries abated, Sashen wanted to continue the barefoot experience in areas which required foot covering. So he developed his own modern huarache-style sandal similar to those worn by the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico’s Copper Canyon,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Running Shoes Gear Guide )〕 consisting of a thin rubber sole sourced from Vibram in Italy and nylon-polypropylene laces (this original style is now sold as the Xero Shoes "Cherry" in the classic kit).〔 After making the first pair for his wife Lena Phoenix and a second for himself, Sashen got requests from friends for their own minimalist sandals. After organising a shoe making party outside the University of Colorado, Sashen and Phoenix formed Feel the World Inc. in November 2009, marketing a do-it-yourself barefoot sandal kit and custom-made sandals under the Invisible Shoes brand.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=About Us )〕〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Best Barefoot Sandals | Tarahumara Huarache Running Shoes )〕 The original shoes were developed further by the addition of a bead stringing-style design.〔 With the input of lead designers who had previously worked with Nike Inc. and Reebok, the team specified and co-developed a new high-abrasion rubber trademarked as FeelTrue®, which enabled the launch of new pre-shaped and sized sandals in two sole thicknesses.〔 In August 2012, the company engaged Dennis Driscoll who has previously developed products for Avia, Crocs, Dr. Martens and Wilson Sporting Goods as chief development officer, and renamed the brand Xero Shoes in December 2012.〔 Selling just via online retailing and with a unique warranty,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=5,000 mile Warranty )〕 the company has since sold 51,000 pairs of shoes in various styles and designs to over 85 countries.〔〔 On an episode airing in January 2013, Sashen and Phoenix pitched for an investment on ABC's reality television series ''Shark Tank'' (Show 52; Series 4, episode 14 "Bibitec").〔 After pitching for an investment of $400,000 for an 8% stake, the couple managed to only get one offer. It came from investor Kevin O'Leary who offered the desired amount, but for 50% of the company. Sashen and Phoenix chose not to accept the proposed deal. The company has since moved from online-sales only to also channel marketing via select high street based North American retailers and Amazon.com, priced from $19.95 to $39.95. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Xero Shoes」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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